2 Did Grimsby have an earthquake?

Seismograms recorded by the British Geological Survey show the earthquake which was centred off Grimsby (Image: British Geological Survey)

Yes it did! This unlikely question ranks high in Google’s search results because an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale struck the area in June this year, shaking houses and setting off car alarms.

The tremor was the biggest since the famous 2008 Market Rasen earthquake, which measured 5.2 on the Richter scale and caused widespread damage.

3 Is Grimsby North or South?

Good question. The argument over where the north-south divide should be drawn has raged for decades and many definitions place Grimsby slap-bang on the border, with the North proper beginning at the Humber Estuary.

However, few people would argue that Grimsby is in the South. Politically (as a part of the Yorkshire and Humber region), economically (recovering from the loss of traditional industries) and culturally (warm and straight-talking), it is undoubtedly a northern port.

4 What are people from Grimsby called?

Grimbarians. People from Cleethorpes, meanwhile, are called Meggies , a name that dates back to a time when the village was nicknamed “Meg’s Island”.

5 Is Grimsby in Yorkshire?

The Humber Bridge is our link to Yorkshire

Oh no, no, no, no, no! Grimsby is undoubtedly a part of Lincolnshire. The confusion dates back to the 1970s when northern Lincolnshire was incorporated, along with Hull and East Yorkshire, into the new county of Humberside, which proved so unpopular that it was abolished in 1996.

Since then, Grimsby has been a part of the North-East Lincolnshire unitary authority and the Yorkshire and Humber economic region. But however the politicians want to cut it, Grimbarians will always be Yellowbellies.

6 Why is Grimsby called Great Grimsby?

Because there is another Grimsby just down the road. The larger port became known as Great Grimsby, to mark it out from the smaller hamlet, which is now called Little Grimsby. Just to confuse matters, however, the wider economic area, including Cleethorpes and Immingham, is sometimes referred to as “Greater Grimsby”.

7 Why is Grimsby in postcode DN?

The first two letters of a postcode refer to the main sorting office for the region. There are 124 throughout the country. The main sorting office for northern Lincolnshire is located in Doncaster, hence the letters DN.

8 What is Grimsby Dock Tower used for (and how tall is it)?

Grimsby Dock Tower

The famous Dock Tower was built in 1852 in order to provide hydraulic power for the lock gates, cranes and other dock machinery. It is 309ft tall and was designed to hold a large reservoir of water 200ft above the ground.

9 How did Grimsby get its name (and how old is it)?

The Havelock and Grim statue formerly near Nuns Corner in Grimsby

Despite all the jokes about it being grim in Grimsby, the name is actually rooted in Viking Britain. According to legend, Grim was a local fisherman who saved a royal prince, Havelok, from death, and helped him become the king of Denmark. A famous statue of the incident stood at Nuns Corner until 2006.

However, historians have suggested the name may actually be a tribute to the god Odin, who was sometimes known as Grim, meaning “masked one”.

Grimsby was settled in the 9th century and was granted a charter, making it a town, in 1201.

10 Why did Grimsby fishing decline?

The Ross Tiger in Grimsby is a legacy of the town's fishing industry

In the 1950s, Grimsby was the world’s largest fishing port but over the following two decades, the industry was decimated by the Cod Wars, a series of disputes between the UK and Iceland over fishing rights in the North Atlantic.

The Cod Wars ended with British trawlers being excluded from rich fishing grounds within 200 miles of the Icelandic coast. The decision, taken to protect NATO’s military position in the area, led to the loss of thousands of jobs and still rankles today.

11 How did Grimsby vote in the referendum?

Many Grimbarians have blamed Europe for the decimation of the fishing industry and the general decline of the town.

However, business leaders have warned that a no-deal Brexit could affect the surviving seafood industry and other port-based businesses.

12 Were Grimsby in the Premier League?

Grimsby Town have never played in the Premier League, but have been promoted to the top flight (the old Division One) on three occasions, in 1902, 1929 and 1934. Their highest finish was 5th in 1934-5 . After the Second World War, the Mariners were relegated in 1948 and have never returned to the highest level.

Famously the club does not actually play in Grimsby: its home ground, Blundell Park, is located over the border in Cleethorpes .

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Quirky Grimsby

13 Does Grimsby smell of fish?

Let’s face it, this is a port proudly built on fishing, with Europe’s biggest fish processing industry. There are fish on the pavements, a fishing heritage centre and a historic trawler moored in the town centre.

It’s hardly surprising that there is sometimes a slight smell wafting through the town, but we recommend visiting one of the many famous fish and chips shops for the very best aroma.

14 What’s Grimsby famous for?

An aerial shot of Grimsby as captured by a reader (Image: Chris Tomlinson)

As well as its famous fishing industry, Grimsby (with Immingham) is Britain’s busiest working port, handling more tonnage than London. It is an important centre for car imports, food processing, particularly the finest seafood in the country, and the renewable energy industry.

Famous people from the town include songwriters Bernie Taupin , who has penned many hits for Elton John, and the late Rod Temperton, who wrote Rock With Me and Thriller for Michael Jackson.

For better or worse, the town’s profile was also undoubtedly raised by The Brothers Grimsby, which seems to be responsible for another strange internet question: “Is Grimsby a real place?” We think we've answered that one.

15 How Grimsby are you?

If you knew the answers to all of these questions, then you’re very Grimsby indeed.